League of Women Voters opposes voter ID
The League of Women Voters of Oklahoma came out today against the voter identification bill that legisaltors approved and is before Gov. Brad Henry.
The group opposes legislation requiring voters to present identification each time they go to the polls, said Gloria Caldwell, a League spokeswoman.
“We strongly urge Governor Henry to veto this legislation,” Caldwell said.
“If there were any evidence of voter impersonation in Oklahoma elections, the League of Women Voters would be first in line supporting this kind of legislation – but proponents cannot identify one single case of voter impersonation in Oklahoma elections,” she said. “Election boards have stringent protections in place to preserve the integrity of Oklahoma’s election system.”
Under SB 4, proof of identity could be established by showing a document containing a photograph of the voter that was issued by a state, federal or tribal government. It also would allow voters to cast a ballot if they showed their free voter identification card issued by their county election board.
Voters unable to show any proof of identity would be allowed to sign a statement under oath swearing to their idenity. Anyone found to have signed the oath falsely would be subject to felony punishment.
“We don’t want voting to be difficult, we simply want to maintain the integrity of our system,” Ford, R-Bartlesville and Senate author of the legislation, said earlier this week.
The bill also extends in-person absentee voting. It would allow voters to start voting at 1 p.m. the Wednesday before a general election. Voters now may cast ballots early on the Friday, Saturday and Monday before an election.
The governor said earlier he preferred to see the two subjects, voter identification and increasing the time for early voting, in separate bills.
What do you think?
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
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Comments
I truly agree with the League of Women voters on this one. This is a clear case of state legislators overreacting to a non-issue.
Which happens a lot in this state I think.
How can we tell if voter fraud has occured? No proof of who you are allows you to pick a name and vote. Anyone of voting age should have a photo ID available. Show your ID and pick up your ballot and vote.
The legislation is imagining a problem into existence, then creating cumbersome legislation to “fix” the imaginary problem. Our legislature needs to come back home from Neverland and start addressing the REAL problems: healthcare, teenage pregnancy, education, poverty, hunger…
At least a Photo ID may prevent illegal immigrants from voting. It’s pretty darn tough anymore for an illegal to get a photo id, and it’s too damn simple for them to lie to get a voter’s registration card.
It takes alot of planning to vote fraudulently – you must know the name and address of a registered voter, their precinct, and if it is a primary, their party affiliation. Once you get that information you have to get to the polls early so that you can vote ahead of the real voter. All of this effort for a single vote. It makes no sense to even try; a single vote is (most likely) not going to make a difference.
Cases of in person fraud voter fraud in Oklahoma? Zero reported, NONE.
Why no cases? Current deterrent of years in jail and hefty fines works. Risk and Cost not worth it. Candidly most elections boards and precinct workers believe there is no a need and will result in: Longer lines, more cost, more workers, hurdles and hassles make for discouraged voters, and will reduce turnout.
If just 2% of voters forget ID or voter card provisional ballots will increase 10X. (see math below)
Any time 1 party pushes hurdles we should all ask what is really going on.
State Election Board Statistics 2008 Fall Election
2% of voters (1.4 million voters in 2008) = 28,000 voters
Approximately 2800 provisional ballots cast in 2008
80% of provisional ballots were rejected in 2008
Time to correctly fill out provisional ballot: 5-10 minutes each.